Metal safety seal for envelopes and the like



Dec. 6, 192 7. 1,651,564

L. UNGER METAL SAFETY SEAL FOR ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed April 26 Evwwtoz Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

. UNITED STATES} PATENTJOFFICE.

, .noorsuivenn, or ELYRIlL OHIO.

METAL SAF sEALroB. ENvEL-orns AND THE LIKE.

' Application'file d April 5, 1926. Serial ITO/99,762.

a This invention relates. to- 'safety for therefrom, and'a female or'ca-p member pro-,

vided with pockets to receive and clinch said prongs to lock the parts in fixed relation so that it would be necessary to tear the flap of the envelope, or the paper wrapperof an express package, to get at the contents there,- of. The clinching pockets are preferably shaped so that the clinched or turned back terminals of the prongs lie against, and 111 the plane of the inner wall of the cap member, but the said clinching pockets of the cap member may be formed so that the clinched terminals ofthe prongs range 1nwardly and radially of the cap member to hold the parts together.

A further feature resides in anovel metal construction in seals for envelopes and the like, whereby the top or outside member of the device may take various ornamental shapes, or designs, such as a heart, a cross, an animal, a flower or flowers, etc.

A still further feature of. the device is that the base member formed according to my invention may be used independently as a paper fastener if desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective and plan view of a pronged base .plate comprising the male member of the seal, v

Fig. 2 is a sectionand bottom View of a cap comprising the female member ofthe A feature of the invention resides}, injfthe:

g. 3 is a back view of an open envelope clinchedsafety sealxemploying the mo ified cap shown in Fig. 7. e

Referring to the figures, I show an ordinary envelope at 10, containing a letter-11, and .12 indicates my improved male base plate member, here shown inthe form of a cross havingarms 13 of equal lengths and formed with integral upstruck prongs 14 which are adapted to enteramouth opening 15, leading intopockets 16 provided in cap or female member '17, when the parts are forced together to.lock the same in fixed relation.

The cap as shown here is semi-spherical but it may be shaped as desired.

The'pockets 16 eachhave a curved top wall 18, the curve ranging laterally of the opening 15, or in a plane approximately parallel to-the wall of thecap so that when the parts are pressed together the points of the prongs will be deflected to one side of said opening and over a cross or bridge plate 19 spanning the pockets 16, to interlock the parts as shown in Fig. 6, the planes of the bridge plates being radially arranged.

The cap 17 may be further formed with a serrated edge 20 which acts to readily tear the paper of the envelope should an unauthorized person attempt to tamper with the seal. V

In the modified form of the female cap member 17, shown in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings, the pockets 16 have the bridge plates 19 arranged in a plane approximately parallel to the wall of the cap, so that when the parts are forced together, the prongs 14 will be clinched inwardly and radially, as in Fig. 8. r

"The. construction shown in Fig. 6, wherein the points of the prongs are turned side- Fi 8 is an enlarged section -throu 'h a wise, offers a stronger lock and is therefore preferred. In both cases the prongs14 may be made of such lengths that their doubled up ends will reach backwards to the line of the lower edge of the female member, or even beyond the same in which case the respective pockets will be formed without a bottom, when the members are clinched together, or the said prongs may be left with shorter ends,'as shown in the drawings.

The cap member and its pockets should be made of hard, light, strong, durable material, such as'aluminum, steel, sheet brass, orsimilar hard substance, so that the prongs willnot penetrate but will be clinched or desired or required.

flected Whenthey are 111 ed orforeed a ainst the inner walls of em pockets, whi e the base member should be made of softer metal or material which has no spring quality but is strong enough to efi'eetively lock the cap prongs are clinched 1n the in placehen the pockets; e

The base plate may be formed with three, four, live, or six arms and unequal number of prongssor it may be made circular, square, triangular, hexagonal, orother shapes, if flellhe cap member may be formed with astrmght :vert1cal side Wall and a slightly domed to rto flatten the structure ifdesired.

Vhen applyingthe base member to an envelope, the prongs may be forced tl'lrough the letter and then through the sealed fla ps of the envelope, or the flapsiney be forced throughtheflaps of the envelope only, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, i The prongs are tapered so that the points only will bend and the baseportions being heavier will stand up under the elinehing thrusts. i i r What I claim as new, 1s:-- in A safety seal for an envelo e, comprising to provide an interlocking connection where by the envelopeie sealed, saidficap member being also provided with serrated edges, along its plane circnlaredge to biteinto the said envelope. i i Signed at Elyria, in the county of Lorain,

A.D.1926.. i

I e LOUIS Unenn,

and State of Ohio, this lst day of April, 

